Rogers leaves The Lawn (From Stroud News and Journal)

Rogers leaves The Lawn

POPULAR Forest Green Rovers midfielder Scott Rogers has torn his contract up to help aid Forest Green's Conference fight.

Rogers, 26, had a month of his contract to go, but decided to take up the option of regular football with Southern Premier title challengers Bath City, he was the subject of a late and lucrative bid from Salisbury.

Rogers said: "I wasn't getting a look in, so coming off the wage bill has helped the gaffer (Gary Owers) bring in Luke Coleman from Torquay.

Rogers admitted it was heart-wrenching to leave The Lawn after signing from Tiverton in August 2003.

"I'm certainly disappointed to be leaving and would like to thank the (chairman) Trevor Horsley and the fans who were always fantastic to me," he said.

Rogers was one of the first players offered a new contract by the club, and gave up a full-time job as a gas engineer to sign a professional contract last summer.

However, a back injury hampered the former Bristol City and Tiverton Town player.

A loan spell at Weston-super-Mare before Christmas failed to re-ignite his Rovers career.

Rogers' first season under Colin Addison will be remembered as his finest. He struck nine goals from midfield and scooped the Supporters' Player of the Year award.

Scott has left with a glowing endorsement from Owers, who said: "I haven't got a bad word to say about Scott. I wish him all the best. Sadly, he hasn't done enough to stay in the team, but it certainly wasn't for a lack of trying."